Kelly Brown, Catherine Leeson and Margaret Walker have been fighting to keep Ripley CofE Primary School open (Image: Rebecca Curley)

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Surrey County Council leader David Hodge has formally announced the decision to close Ripley CofE Primary School.

Cllr Hodge made the heartfelt announcement during an emotional meeting at County Hall on Tuesday, July 17.

Despite last-minute efforts by parents and residents of the village of Ripley to find a solution to keep the school going, Cllr Hodge said: “Surrey has a duty to council taxpayers and I believe we, Surrey County Council, cannot continue to fund schools in these circumstances.

“The proposal to close Ripley School is clearly in the best interest of educational provision in the area.

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Catherine Leeson, one of the parents involved in the campaign to save the school, said it was because seven days had not been enough time to be able to present evidence of how the collaboration would work.

Alex Tear, director of education for the Diocese of Guildford, said that they had kept a consistent viewpoint since September 2017 that the school was not viable enough to continue.

The school in Wentworth Close, Ripley, received an inadequate Ofsted judgement in May 2017 and the Regional Schools Commissioner ordered the school must be placed in a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT).

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Throughout the meeting, Mrs Leeson and other campaigners stressed the reduction in numbers to the current 24 pupils was because of a letter sent out to parents in May 2017 suggesting they looked at alternative options for the children.

They argued that this took numbers down from 144 pupils in 2016 to 24 this term.

And that despite an inadequate judgement from Ofsted, the school was not failing children and had been able to still meet standards higher than some other schools in the county.

They argued that had SCC put in a permanent head teacher when the previous head teacher left in 2015/16 then the position may have been different.

Kelly Brown, who has two boys at the school, said: “ Surrey County Council failed the school and Surrey County Council should now help to rebuild the school.”

She said the school went for “11 terms without a leader and that was the council's decision to leave it like that”.

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Cllr Mary Lewis, cabinet leader for learning, said it was not the size of the school that was the problem, it was the amount of empty spaces which were “dragging down the budget”.

She said: “Even when you go back 10 years when it was an outstanding school, the school had empty places.”

She stressed the school had been failing vulnerable children and could not meet the needs of SEND children and those from deprived backgrounds.

She added: “When you drill down into the Ofsted report, it doesn’t just talk about the average standards it talks about specifically those cohorts who are a strategic priority in the county council when their needs were not being met in the school. “

She said the child-centred considerations were the reasons for the closure and the council could not keep “pouring money into the school”.

Signs have appeared in Ripley village calling on residents to oppose the closure of the local primary school (Image: Catherine Leeson)

Extracts from Council Leader David Hodge’s speech:

I thank everyone for their contributions today and for last Monday, July 9.

I recognise the passion of the parents representing their case which is understandable.

It’s a sad occasion to have to consider closing any school.

I have huge respect for the teachers and governors.

I’m aware of the respect locals have for sustaining rural schools and the presumption of maintaining them, apart from in exceptional circumstances.

No second opportunities for children and education. This is really, really important to me.

How can we ensure those children at Ripley have an opportunity of a good education?

I think it’s important we must maintain they can attend the best schools possible. The school has been failed by Ofsted and we have to take that judgement. That’s the judgement of experts and not me.

I recognise the outstanding contribution of Cllr Julie Iles.

We must all recognise that the school funding depends on the number of children at a school. We cannot control that.

Surrey County Council has provided extra financial other support to keep Ripley School viable for as long as possible.

The Government has indicated a presumption in favour of an academisation of schools and allows the formations of MAT - Multi Academy Trust.

The expectation's that MATs will support and nurture failing schools. The Diocese role is important in church schools.

MATs will look at data to see if a school has potential to change.

Ripley School has been in difficulties for some time due to the poor standards and low pupils numbers.

Schools cannot withstand such impact on budget losses without impact of teachers and learning for children.

Surrey has done all within its powers to support the school over a number of years.

The continued financial investment, support and expertise from our joint venture partnership Babcock 4S has enabled 96% of Surrey schools to be good or outstanding.

Surrey appointed a new governing board (IEB) when the last board resigned in block. We had no option so we went in and did that. All the new governors were advanced skills governors.

The RSC issued a directive order enabling Ripley School to become part of a MAT.

With regret, no MAT has been identified in accordance with the MOU as required.

Thus as Ripley School will not be joining a MAT and the option for the SCC to either continue to maintain a failing school under attended or discontinue it. That is the option we have before us

Surrey are aware of planned residential developments and The Guildford Local Plan considerations which are not yet signed off by an inspector.

But on reflection I do not accept that they change the balance of needs in numbers we need.

Housing developments that are not agreed cannot form part of Surrey’s decision making for a school with insufficient numbers and a directive academy order.

I am of the view that it is not sustainable to wait or keep a school open as children’s education must also be recognised in any decision I make.

I accept and realise all interested parties will be disappointed with my decision.

Having assessed the facts, listened carefully and considered consultation responses and all alternatives to closure.

Surrey has a duty to council tax payers and I believe we, SCC, cannot continue to fund schools in these circumstances.

The proposal to close Ripley School is clearly in the best interest of educational provision in the area.